Jimi Hendrix owned this guitar for almost three years - longer than any other documented Hendrix guitar. Jimi bought it, as Noel Redding recalled, 'second hand, for about $25, in New York after our first tour of the States and brought it back to England with us on the plane'.

The guitar continued to be used regularly following Jimi's move to 23 Brook Street, now a museum dedicated to him. Jimi was captured on film playing this distinctive guitar on at least one occasion, most notably when he performed Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog' at the after-show party following The Experience's Royal Albert Hall concert of February 18th 1969. Visitors to Brook Street at this time remember the guitar was 'always within arm's reach, usually beside the bed and, invariably, played at raucous parties!'

Establishing provenance on items of entertainment memorabilia, especially from such a 'heady' period as the late 60's requires diligent research. In this instance, the photographs of Hendrix with the guitar showing identical blemishes plus the clearly documented ownership following Hendrix's death was crucial to securing such a strong price.

Katherine Schofield
Head of Entertainment, London